Bald Eagle Stamps Take Flight

On 14 May 2026, the U.S. Postal Service released a captivating set of stamps honoring our national bird, the bald eagle, at the National Eagle Center in Wabasha, Minnesota. The release features five realistic illustrations of bald eagles at different stages of life, painted by the celebrated ornithologist and illustrator David Allen Sibley.

A Symbol of the Nation

On 20 June 1782, an act of Congress officially established the bald eagle as a national symbol when it placed its image on the Great Seal of the United States, used to authenticate formal government documents. Congress chose the bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), native to North America, to embody American ideals such as freedom, courage, strength, and power.

On the Great Seal, a bald eagle is depicted sporting a shield on its breast, with 13 red and white stripes representing the 13 original Colonies. The bald eagle also appears in the logo of the U.S. Postal Service, on currency, military insignia, and countless buildings, flags, and commercial products across the country. Bald eagles are also deeply important to many Native American cultures, where eagle feathers have been used in cultural and religious ceremonies for thousands of years, and eagles feature prominently in Native legends.

The Artist — David Allen Sibley

The stamps feature original paintings by David Allen Sibley, the preeminent American ornithologist and illustrator whose Sibley Guide to Birds is widely regarded as the most comprehensive guide to North American birds. The stamp project marks Sibley's first collaboration with the U.S. Postal Service.

"While the bald eagle is known to virtually all Americans as our national bird, few people know much about them," Sibley said. "Showing the series of life stages in these stamps is a simple, visual way to emphasize that the familiar adult eagle has already lived for at least four years — through a series of transitional plumages — finding food, migrating and surviving all of life's challenges. I hope these stamps spark curiosity and a greater appreciation for the lives of eagles."

Design & Production

Derry Noyes, an art director for USPS, designed the stamps using Sibley's original paintings. "Eagles are fascinating birds and worthy of our attention," Noyes said. "Once endangered by pesticides and hunting, with conservation they have made a huge comeback. I'm delighted to shed some light on these amazing birds in all their glory."

The set, titled Bald Eagle: Hatchling to Adult, traces the eagle's development through five distinct life stages — from a downy hatchling to the iconic white-headed adult. The stamps are issued in panes of 20 and, as Forever stamps, will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail 1-ounce price.

Why Collect This Set?

The Bald Eagle: Hatchling to Adult stamps represent a remarkable intersection of art, ornithology, and American heritage. David Allen Sibley's first-ever stamp collaboration with the USPS makes this release particularly significant for collectors of wildlife and bird-themed stamps, USPS modern issues, and ornithological philately. The five life-stage progression — from hatchling to majestic adult — offers a unique visual narrative rarely seen on postage stamps.

The set also holds special meaning as the bald eagle continues its remarkable conservation recovery. Once endangered by the pesticide DDT and unregulated hunting, the bald eagle was removed from the Endangered Species List in 2007 and has since become one of America's greatest wildlife success stories. News of the stamps is being shared with the hashtag #BaldEagleStamps.

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